Author

Date Approved

Degree Type

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Department

College of Technology

Committee Member

Alphonso Bellamy

Committee Member

Joe Bishop

Committee Member

Behrooz Lahidji

Committee Member

Jamal Bari

Comments

This research analyzes the variables that may impact Internet addiction and information disclosure among college students in two Midwestern universities of both public and private status. The correlation between the locus of control, emotional intelligence (EI), and narcissism to Internet addiction and information disclosure was examined. The study comprised of surveys of 132 subjects ranging from bachelor to doctoral degree-level students, but completed surveys were collected from 114 people. The survey responses were examined by utilizing a correlation analysis to assess the statistical significance and the relational relevance between the variables. The correlation analysis performed determined the relationship between the three independent variables (i.e., narcissism, the locus of control, and EI) and each of the dependent variables (i.e., Internet addiction and information disclosure). Each combined score for each survey was used for narcissism, the locus of control, and EI, which showed no significant correlation with Internet addiction. However, there was a statistical relationship between narcissism and information disclosure, and only a slight relationship between the locus of control and information disclosure. There was a less than modest negative relationship between EI and both information disclosure and Internet addiction. Further examination of each of EI’s subdimensions (self-awareness, empathy, relationship management, and self-management) found no correlation. An evaluation to determine the influence that gender has on each of the variables reviewed that females had a correlation between locus of control and narcissism to information disclosure and males were found to be have no correlation.

Recommended Citation

Avant, Antonio, "Examining the impact that the locus of control, emotional intelligence, and narcissism have on internet addiction and information disclosure among college students" (2017). Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations. 764.
https://commons.emich.edu/theses/764